Mohandas Pai, former financial director of Infosys, sharply criticized Hotmail founder Sabir Bhatia after Bhatia questioned India’s recent achievement of surpassing Japan in GDP. The argument started under Bhatia’s video on X (former Twitter) showing gloomy Indian slums and polluted rivers.
Sabir Bhatia explained that he receives a lot of negative reactions on X but continues to speak out because of love for India and a desire to improve the lives of those at the very bottom of the social pyramid. This time, Bhatia questioned whether India’s economic growth is truly benefiting its citizens.
We may have surpassed Japan in GDP, but do you really feel the change? Growth without fair distribution is just hidden inflation.
Bhatia explained his understanding of fair growth and suggested implementing AI to train critical thinking among the population.
Pai’s response was immediate and sharp.
“Man, you are an economic refugee, left India long ago. Good riddance to bad rubbish. You had no role in India’s progress. So stop pontificating and shut up. We will grow India and build our future. We do not need you. You are toxic and a hate monger,” he posted, directly quoting and reposting Bhatia’s original video.
“We stayed back, worked very hard, paid our taxes and grew India. We will grow our industry and the future! India is still a poor country, but growing very fast. We are better than 20 years ago, better than 10 years ago, better than 5 years ago,” Pai wrote in a follow-up post.
Bhatia hit back with a calmer tone, replying, “I see hate in your tweets. Mine are loaded with logic.”
India has surpassed Japan in GDP, reaching $4.187 trillion and becoming the world’s fourth-largest economy, announced BVR Subrahmanyam, CEO of the Indian government’s think tank NITI Aayog, on May 25. However, many analysts point out that India’s GDP per capita remains significantly lower compared to developed economies.
Mohandas Pai – Indian entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist, known as a former financial director of IT giant in India Infosys, Right after leaving Infosys, Pai became a venture investor and found Aarin Capital Fund, which focuses on investment in healthcare, education and technology.
Sabir Bhatia is an Indian-American entrepreneur, best known as the founder of Hotmail, the first free web-based email service, launched in 1996. After selling Hotmail, Bhatia founded ShowReel, a platform that helps entrepreneurs create short videos, which can be transformed into educational content on entrepreneurship.
Bhatia moved to the United States to pursue his education. He studied at a technological university in California and later at Stanford University.
As of now, Bhatia has made his X page private.
